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Month: March 2016

‘Chaos Whisperer’ is the hero name for writers and artists. These creators take the chaos that is life and hold it still for the briefest of moments so we can look closely. How else can we come to know a world in flux; to know what it is to be human.

This is particularly true of my book “Death Writes: A Curious Notebook”. My attempt to look death in the eye after losing my parents and a brother. A way to still riotous Death long enough to get a look inside. A revealation.

The provocative title of a short story that was written in response to a challenge I offered students in one of my creative writing courses at U of C many years ago. The story went on to win an award that I’m aware of and perhaps others that I’m not. Recently, I reconnected with the author of this story on LinkedIn. Why do I tell you this? Well, my journey of late, although not Zen-like, has taken me into the world of social media. Not entirely a foreign territory for me, but my mediations tend to lead to acts of creation, in the form of novels, short stories, paintings.

That said, having sent a new novel out into the world, I am destined to hold the hand of my brainchild. In our brave new world that means we, Wildnis and I, must navigate a path through the land of Social Media.

It’s been a revelation. At first a cacophony of voices, rather daunting, but the white noise is clearing and I’m connecting with like-minded travellers and old friends.

A meeting of minds…. how can that be possible in such a riotous world? I think it comes down to our ability to find who and what we need, no matter. An instinct for survival.